All haters have found data bundles and time to troll Gor Mahia after a defensive minded Bandari ended their 22 game unbeaten run. But that only tells you how big and mighty this team is.
Gor have won so many matches, that losing is now top news. But that is only a minor setback for a team that has already backed the Sportpesa super cup, and tops Group D in the CAF CC.
Two first half goals from Dan Guya and Yema Mwana gave the hosts a 2-0 lead at halftime. And we have to give the dockers credit for defending as if their lifes depended on it. Their boring defensive football reminded me of the Champions League Semifinal match between Chelsea and Barcelona in 2012, a match in which Didier Drogba was playing behind Petr Cech
The dockers were reduced to 10 men when fullback Fred Nkata received a second yellow with five minutes to play as the visitors piled the pressure but they maintained their resilience despite K’Ogalo pulling one back late on through Jacques Tuyisenge.
The last time Gor lost in the league was in October 2017 when they went down 1-0 to Mathare United at Thika Sub County Stadium. While the loss is good for KPL, it does not mean that Gor have lost momentum.
Prophets of doom are excited as if any KPL team can mount a challenge for the KPL title. Gor remain perched at the top with 56 points from 22 matches but have three games in hand against second-placed Bandari who are now on 45 points. In other words the league is gone and the other small teams should focus on winning the Shield Cup.
After today’s 2-1 loss to @BandariOfficial in Mombasa bringing our legue unbeaten run to a halt, here is what the Premier League table standings look like. Despite the upset, the march towards the league title is still on #Sirkal pic.twitter.com/vNrcQQJ7BK
— GOR MAHIA FC (@OfficialGMFC) August 7, 2018
No team can play all those games that Gor have played and still mantain their quality. The Green Army played 11 matches in July and will play 10 more before the end of August but no one is complaining. Dylan Kerr has set his boys for the big prize.
At the end of this month, Gor will be the only East African side remaining in Continental Championships and that should tell you about the size of this team. At the moment, they are the best team in East Africa and are the favorites to lift the CAF Confederations cup.
Bandari head coach Bernard Mwalala was a very happy man saying the win will automatically give the players the confidence to keep winning.
“I must commend all my players for playing the game with determination and team spirit. I also congratulate them for following my instructions and keep their concentrating levels high,” said Mwalala.
Gor Mahia head coach Dylan Kerr blamed the defeat on poor defending.
“We didn’t really trouble their goalkeeper, we had few chances in the first half and we tried to change in the second half to get back into the game which we did. But you know, we have to look at it and say well done Bandari, they have done what a lot of people in Kenya want to do,” said Kerr.